Clasp or related article



July 27, 1943. J ADAMS CLASP OR RELATED'ARTICLE Filed July 8, 1941 Patented July 27, 1943 1 Claim. (01. 24-252) This invention relates to clasps or related articles and particularly to clasps of such character that they accommodate themselves to or the present invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and ex planation only, and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In connection with that more detailed description, there is shown in the accompanying drawing in Figure l, a plan view of a clasp produced in accordance with the present invention; in

Figure 2, a reverse plan view of the clasp of Figure 1; in

Figure 3, a transverse section on the lines 33 of Figure 1; in

Figure 4, a front elevation of the clasp of the present invention; and in Figure 5, a perspective view of the clasp.

As illustrated in the drawing, the present invention is particularly concerned'with clasps and particularly clasps in which jaw members are utilized for gripping materials or products where the gripping action is exerted even. though the materials clasped may vary substantially in thickness over the portion of such material clasped by the clasps of the present invention. Particularly as illustrated, the clasps of the present invention are concerned with jaw members pivotally connected together, where one of the jaw members is of substantially heavy and rigid material while the coacting jaw member is de sirably light, flexible and springy. Such weighted clasps due to the heavy jaw member present, may be used to retain desired articles submerged in liquid, as for example, in retaining seaweed in aquaria in the position desired.

Referring tothe clasp as illustrated in the drawing, two jawmembers l, 2 are provided gripped by the user of the clasp.

pivotally connected together as at 3. Desirably .the jaw member I is heavy and rigid and may be substantially shell-shaped as indicated, while the coacting jaw member 2 is desirably of flexible,

and springy material. For such purposes any desired materials may be employed but preferably jaw member I ismade of lead or lead alloy from which it may be cast in the. desired shape, while jaw member 2 is of flexible and spring sheet metal or may be of flexible springy plastic material,"sheet metal being desirable,

. One of the jaw members is provided on its under surface in this case jaw member I, with lugs or projections 4, 5 provided with openings or perforations 6 therein, for reception of the pivot or pintle I.

The other jaw member as illustrated jaw member 2, may be slit to provide tongues 8, 9 struck up from the jaw member 2 so that the pivot or pivot or pintle I to hold the jaw member 2 in position.

The jaw member l may be provided with'a base l0 while the jaw member 2 has an end 'll extending beyond thepivotjoint, the base I0 and handle II serving as ends that may be The arcuate extended jaws l2 and I 3 form a substantial surface for engagement with articles to be clasped. Desirably in order to enable the jaws to adjust themselves to varying thicknesses of material gripped, one of the jaw members, as

.for example, member 2 is provided with a, series of spring fingers or bifurcations I4 which may be formed by cutting through the material 2 at the gripping edge thereof for a substantial distance from the edge of the jaw 2. A series of closely contiguousspring fingers of this character spread over all or a portion of the gripping edge of jaw 2 enable the jaw to present a continuous gripping area throughout its arcuate portions while the spring fingers adjust or adapt themselves to varying-thicknesses of the material gripped. Desirably. the fingers M are flexed as shown at [5 so that only the extreme outer edges thereof contact against the corresponding portion of jaw l. The spring fingers may be given any desired contour for special gripping action to suit particular cases.

Desirably the heavy jaw member I is cut away to provide a concave portion I! to provide an enlarged space within and between the jaws to acterial. And further desirably the jaw -are spring pressed to maintain them in gripping relation for which purpose the base of the jaw member I may be cut away to provide a seat l8 in which oneend of a coil spring 19 is seated, while the other end of the coil spring [Bis positioned by an ear 20 struck up from the handle portion H of the jaw member 2.

Clasps of the present character are simple in structureand economical to manufacture. The

weighted jawmember enables: the clasptoremain submerged in liquid as in the water of an aquarium while the gripping jaws 1101a any desirable material such as seaweed in position, and the spring fingers of the jaw adjust themselves -to "accommodate any varying thickness of the material gripped by the clasp, as for examplewhen the stems of seaweed are grippedz andilheldi'imposition. I

gform a part, and a spring member carried by said jaws to urge the fingers of the flexible jaw toward the heavy jaw member, thereby forming a substantially continuous gripping edge compensating for variations in thickness of material gripped between said jaws.

i JOHN F. ADAMS. 

